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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How old is Ursa when Great-Gram tells her about her family history?

2. What does Tadpole say his father did after the war?

3. What does Mutt do to Ursa in the beginning of the novel?

4. On what condition does Tadpole allow Ursa to start work again?

5. What does Tadpole say to Ursa when she asks him whether she should take the job at the Spider?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ursa remember asking Mutt about wives? What was Mutt's response to this question?

2. Whom does Tadpole ask to be a witness at his wedding? Why is Ursa uncomfortable with this?

3. When Tadpole visits Ursa to make amends for what he did, what does he tell Ursa? What is Ursa's response to this?

4. What does Cat tell Ursa about her past? How does their conversation end?

5. When Jimmy comes into Happy's to talk to Ursa, what does she want Jimmy to tell Mutt? What happens later that night between Ursa and Tadpole?

6. What does Tadpole say about where his father is? What does Ursa tell Tadpole about her father?

7. What is Cat's reaction to Ursa's treatment of Jeffy? What does Ursa think about her treatment of Jeffy?

8. While Ursa is staying at Cat's place, what does Cat tell Ursa about Tadpole? What does she say about Mutt?

9. For whom does the doctor mistake Tadpole? What does Ursa tell him after this?

10. What does Tadpole say about it when Ursa is offered a job at the Spider? Whom does Ursa say he can hire in her place?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Think about the role of dreams in the novel. How are dreams reflective of what a person really feels? Write an essay about the symbolism of dreams in the novel. Cite specific examples from the text to support your responses.

Essay Topic 2

Ursa sings the blues onstage. Write an essay on the theme of self expression in the form of song in the novel. Why is Ursa only able to express herself through song? What conflicts does this lead to in her life? Cite specific examples from the text to support your responses.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay on the role of evidence in the novel. Why is it important? How is it shown? Cite specific examples from the text to support your responses.

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